Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Thatcher Oswald of Manson Northwest Webster places third in the Gold Division of the Webster City Invitational on Tuesday evening. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

WEBSTER CITY — In a six-day span, St. Edmond’s Anthony Valles has already captured two cross country meet titles.

The junior has served notice — and gained attention accordingly.

Entering the season, Valles was ranked No. 7 in Class 1A. After an impressive win in Gowrie last Thursday with a sub-17 time, Valles vaulted to No. 1 in Class 1A ahead of Tuesday’s meet in Webster City.

Valles (16:54.60) cut another four seconds off his team and helped the Gaels (67) place second in the Gold Division behind champion Algona (49).

“We let him (Valles) go. There were some studs in that race and I wanted to see him compete against them,” said SEHS head coach Mike Szalat. “He was four seconds faster (than last week), and we wanted him to do that.

“Anthony is a competitor. We wanted to see him push.”

Gael teammates Liam Shannon (5th in 18:11.10) and Levi Odor-Westrum (9th in 18:11.10) cracked the Top-10 as well.

“We had five boys and one girl run PRs,” Szalat said. “It was a good effort from both sides. Out of 25 runners, we had 15 drop their times.”

Erik Larson (19:58.70) was 21st and Drake Yurkovac (20:49.60) took 31st. Thomas Knobbe and Jonah Carlson placed 40th and 42nd, respectively.

“Erik stepped up and we were excited to see him go under 20,” Szalat said. “The kids are very coachable and listen to (assistant) coach (Donn) Larson and myself.

“We are getting excited to see where these groups can go.”

Algona turned in a strong performance, placing all five counters in the Top-15.

Junior Gavin Weber (17:09.40) was second, while Brooks Morgan (18:52.40) crossed in seventh. Barrett Morgan placed 12th, and Isaac Wilson ended up 13th.

Ryley Riggert rounded out the Bulldog scoring in 15th.

Manson Northwest Webster’s Thatcher Oswald earned bronze in a time of 17:25.00. Teammate Tysin Anderson (18:56.00) was eighth and Cougar Kyle Widlund (19:16.40) placed 11th.

Eagle Grove’s Abdi Castro (18:51.00) placed sixth.

The Dodgers were fifth in the Purple Division for larger schools. The Dodgers were led by Aidan Recker (18:39.20) and Cael Hansen (18:40.40), who were 17th and 18th, respectively.

“Aidan set a personal record and Cael was just off of his,” said FDSH head coach Joe Jackson. “Aidan was really consistent through his run. He’s doing a really nice job. They all are.”

Jayce Point (19:22.90) was 24th, Madden Bailey (20:17.80) was 34th and Elijah Lawrence (20:32.50) was 37th for the Dodgers. Corban McHone and Owen Gruver were 42nd and 43rd, respectively.

“The boys did well,” Jackson said. “We are starting to get that second mile in line with the first. Most have theirs within 15 to 20 seconds.

“We showed solid improvements in our approach.”

The Dodgers are back in action next Thursday at Marshalltown. The Gaels run in the CYO Meet at Holstein on Saturday, Sept. 14.

WEBSTER CITY INVITATIONAL

(Tuesday’s results)

Boys Gold Division Team Standings

1. Algona 49; 2. St. Edmond 67; 3. Manson Northwest Webster 94; 4. Roland-Story 99; 5. Eagle Grove 134; 6. Southeast Valley 149; 7. Hampton-Dumont/CAL 166; 8. Belmond-Klemme 184; 9. South Hamilton 200;

Boys Gold Division Individual Leaders

1. Anthony Valles, St. Edmond, 16:54.60; 2. Gavin Weber, Algona, 17:09.40; 3. Thatcher Oswald, Manson Northwest Webster, 17:25.00; 4.Corben Lucchesi, Roland-Story, 19:01.80; 5. Liam Shannon, St. Edmond, 18:11.10.

St. Edmond — 1. Anthony Valles 15:54.60; 5. Liam Shannon 18:11.10; 9. Levi Odor-Westrum 18:57.40; 21. Erik Larson 19:58.70; 31. Drake Yurkovac 20:49.60; 40. Thomas Knobbe 21:48.90; 42. Jonah Carlson 22:00.30.

Boys Purple Division Team Standings

1. Gilbert 18; 2. Ballard 83; 3. North Polk; 4. Waverly-Shell Rock 105; 5. Fort Dodge 130; 6. Webster City 133; 7. Boone 202; 8. Humboldt 210.

Boys Purple Division Individual Leaders

1. Logan Bleich, Gilbert, 15:43.70; 2. Jacob Tallman, Gilbert, 15:54.90; 3. Austin Solowisch, Waverly-Shell Rock, 16:17.70; 4. Carson Squiers, Gilber, 16:20.10; 5. Emmett Barber, Gilbert, 16:54.00.

Fort Dodge — 17. Aidan Recker 18:39.20; 18. Cael Hansen 18:40.40; 24. Jayce Point 19:22.90; 34. Madden Bailey 20:17.80; 37. Elijah Lawrence 20:32.50; 42. Corban McHone 21:00.50; 43. Owen Gruver 21:08.90.